Irish Freemasonry In 1900.

IRISH FREEMASONRY IN 1900 .

A REVIEW of the development of Free and Accepted Masonry in this country during the century which is now closed would , no doubt , prove interesting to a large section of our readers , but the task of compiling this history would

entail such prolonged research and arduous labour , even by an expert , and its publication would mean such large demands on space as to render it impracticable to deal with the question in the columns of a newspaper . In the present notice it is , therefore , only intended to glance at some of the principal

features which have made themselves conspicuous during the past year in connection with the Craft in Ireland , and not to enter into any details of the general progress of an Institution which is credited with having lived and flourished longer than any other benevolent society ever established by

the hand of man . This is not so much to be wondered at when it is remembered that the great principles on which the Order is founded are the common brotherhood of man , charity in word and deed , truth , obedience to all lawful authority , loyalty to the Sovereign , and a humble reverence for the Sacred Name of the Great Architect and Overseer of

the Universe . That Masonry is a helpmate and not a danger to religion is manifest by the fact that ministers of the Gospel are amongst its most ardent members . The late distinguished Prelate and patriotic Irishman , Lord Plunket , Archbishop of

Dublin , was for many years Senior Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Ireland , and he was succeeded in that Office by the venerable and beloved pastor , the Rev . Benjamin Gibson , M . A ., who has as his colleague in the Grand

Chaplaincy the Right Rev . the Bishop of Down . The Right Rev . the Bishop of Ossory also holds high Office in the Order , and numerous Irish Incumbents and Curates are proud of being enrolled in its ranks .

Royalty has been for centuries closely identified with Freemasonry in Ireland as well as in England and the Northern countries of Europe . Ever since the Prince of Wales—who is Patron of the Order in Ireland—was initiated

into the rites of the Craft by the King of Sweden , at Stockholm , in 1868 , his Royal Highness has taken a keen personal interest in its welfare—an observation which also applies to the Duke of Connaught . The Duke of Connaught is Grand Master of the Order of the Temple in Ireland , and , as he is

now resident m Dublin as Commander of the Forces , it is hoped that his Royal Highness will early in the year take part in the ceremony of the opening of the new buildings which are being erected as necessary additions to the Masonic Orphan Boys School at Clonskeagh , and which will make this

already splendid concern one of the best equipped of the kind in the United Kingdom . For the purposes of the erection and fitting up of the new buildings ( which comprise spacious class-rooms and other apartmentsj a Century Fund was started a couple of years ago , when it was decided to ask

the Brethren to contribute to the extent of £ 6 , 000—no small sum , having regard to the circumstances of the times . However , this sum has not only been already fully contributed , but augmented by over another £ 1 , 000 , the outcome of the generosity of Irish , Freemasons . The increased and increasing

number of their members has also involved further and exceptional expenditure , for the Masonic Hall premises in Molesworth Street—the headquarters of the Order in Ireland —have had to be altered , and extensive additions made

thereto . Electric lighting has been introduced , and decorations on a most elaborate and beautiful scale are being carried out . All this desirable and necessary work will probably run to £ 10 , 000 .

Notwithstanding these unusual outlays , the charitable work of the Order has in no way suffered . If anything , it has had bestowed on it greater concern than ever . The care of the orphan and widow has been always one of the first thoughts of the Freemasons , and the wants of the distressed

Brother are also as far as possible provided for . The schools have been maintained in the greatest efficiency during the year , as proved beyond question by the published returns of the Intermediate Education Board . The results fees awarded for the answering of the Girls School , Ball ' s Bridge , at the

examinations held in June last , amounted to £ 293 , as compared with £ 249 the previous year—a very substantial increase ; but there was still even a greater increase in the amount awarded to the pupils of the Boys School , at Clonskeagh . It rose from £ 268 to £ 443 , while out of the thirtyeight boys who entered for the Intermediate Examinations

Irish Freemasonry In 1900.

thirty-four passed—a record amongst Intermediate schoolsand amongst the prizes gained were two exhibitions . Of the thirty-six girls who were examined no less than thirty-three passed , while at the examinations in religious knowledge the results were equally satisfactory . It may not be out of place to

state that during the year an ex-pupil of the Boys School , William Burke Wright ( who attended no other school prior to his entering Trinity College ) gained high distinction at the last examination for Degrees in Dublin University . He obtained the first place and gold medal for Mathematical

Moderatorship , as well as first place , with gold medal , in Natural Science . For his answering he was awarded the Mathematical Studentship , with £ 100 for five years . Other ex-pupils were also successful during the year in Civil Service Competitions . There are at present 104 pupils in the Girls

School , and eighty-four in the Boys School . The Masonic Jubilee Fund , the youngest of the Charities , it also well sustained , and as it grows in years it will no doubt grow in usefulness . Additional financial support is all that is needed , for this Fund , like the schools , is most excellently managed .

During the year a very interesting ceremony took place , in which Masons from all parts of Ireland took part—namely , the presentation of an address of congratulation to Sir James Creed Meredith , LL . D ., the Deputy Grand Master of Ireland , on the honour of Kniphthood being conferred upon him by

the Queen . On the same occasion a full-sized oil painted portrait of Sir James was unveiled in its place amongst the pictures of other distinguished Masons which already adorn

the Grand Lodge Room , and a magnificent set of diamonds was also sent to Lady Meredith , as a token of the goodwill of the Brethren towards the wife of their Deputy Grand Master .

As to the general progress of the Order in Ireland reports speak very favourably . The membership is still increasing . Nine new Warrants for the constitution of Lodges have been issued , and most of these have gone to the North of Ireland , where Masonry is in a most flourishing condition , particularly

in the Cjty of Belfast , which can boast of a larger number of Lodges than the City of Dublin . During the opening month of the new century a very important function will take place in the Northern Capital . As already announced His Grace the Duke of Abercorn Grand Master of Ireland will , on the

15 th inst ., at a special Communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim , instal the Earl of Shaftesbury as Provincial Grand Master , in the room of the Marquis of Hertford , resigned . Another important ceremony , at which the G . M . will preside , will be the opening at Limavady of a new

Masonic Hall , which has been built during the year , and which is now receiving the finishing touches . During his stay in Limavady the Grand Master will be the guest of the W . M . Bro . G . N . Proctor and the Officers of St Alban Lodge . The opening arrangements will be carried out under the auspices

of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Londonderry and Donegal , of which Bro . Wm . E . Scott , D . L ., is Provincial Grand Master , and Sir Wm . Miller , M . D ., is Deputy Provincial Grand Master . A notice of this description would not be complete without reference to Irish Freemasons who have taken part in the

South African War—namely , Field Marshal Lord Roberts , Lord Kitchener , and Sir Wm . Thomson . Altogether the members of the Order in Ireland may well feel proud of the records of their organisation in the last year of the century . — '" Dublin Daily Express . "

A great number of the Lodges throughout Ontario have during the past two months elected and installed their Officers for the ensuing twelve months , and we would like the Officers , especially the Masters , to read the following paragraph which we have clipped from the " Masonic

Standard , " and to guide themselves accordingly : Magpies and parrots are interesting birds , in their places , but they are out of place in a Masonic Lodge . Magpies chatter a meaningless jargon , to the great annoyance of all who hear them . Parrots repeat by rote , over and over again , just what they have been

taught , without knowing the meaning of a single word . Magpies in the Lodge room gather in the north-west corner and Keep up a chatter that annoys the workers and disturbs the Brethren . Parrots repeat in the East and elsewhere about

the Lodge , words , words , words , without comprehending what the words mean . There is no heart in the chatter of a magpie , or the " words " of a parrot . The magpies should be placed in their own cage in the ante-room , and the parrot relegated to a secluded spot . — " Canadian Craftsman , "